The unconscious act of pushing unacceptable or painful experiences into the unconscious is called what?

• A. Symbiosis
• B. Repression
• C. Oedipus complex
• D. Projection

Answer: (B)

Pushing unacceptable or painful experiences out of conscious awareness is a defense mechanism called repression. In Freudian theory, repression keeps threatening thoughts and memories out of awareness to reduce anxiety. Because these thoughts stay unconscious, you might not remember them directly, yet they can influence behavior, dreams, or physical symptoms. This differs from projection, which involves attributing your own unacceptable impulses to others, and from the Oedipus complex, a specific psychosexual stage describing unconscious feelings toward a parent. Symbiosis refers to a close, interdependent relationship and isn’t a defense mechanism. So the best term for this unconscious denial is repression.